The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-04-08
REGULAR EXERCISE.
How 1t Assists in the Natural BaIanciI
of Brain and Physical Forces.

of Brain and Physical Forces.
Second only to the nourishment of
the blood by food is the regulation of
the action of all the vital organs by
exercise. That exercise which is taken
spasmOdically and at uncertain inter
walls is injurious, rather than beneficial.
JudiciOus exercise for brain workers
is that which causes the blood to flow
freely, and affords change of position
and action to the cramped and wearied
muscles, in addition to some slight in
terest calculated to insure a change of
thought and consequent relaxation to n
tired brain. 1t should be taken out of
doors and in the sunshine if possible;
because sunlight is an important source
of physical vigor.
Failing of Open-air exercise, absolute
purity of the surrounding atmosphere is
imperative, because its respiration fur
nishes to the blood that quantity of
oxygen necessary to the process Of de-
structive assimilation, which restores
vitality and tones the nervous system.
The condition of the nervous system
affects the secretion of the gastric juices
and of course its deficiency occasions
impaired digestion. When one has
been writing several hours in badly
ventilated room, or in one lighted with
gas, exercise in pure air is required to
supply the blood with oxygen, and thus
prepare the way for the proper nutri-
ton of the brain, nerves and muscles
from the next supply Of food.
With the brain worker, whether he
1.
merchant, exercise replaces that degree
of manual labor upon which the health
of the average Nottingham depends;
but he should never be led astray by
the idea that violent physical effort can
in any way counterfeit the WEAKNESS
arising from excessive mental toll. Ex-
ercise to the point Of fatigue is suicidal
to brain workers: it is simply the kill
ing of Il half-dead man. The best time
for gentle outdoor exercise seems to be
about mid-aftenoon, if it can be taken
without exposure to excessive heat; the
sunlight has chemical properties which
act tonically upon the system. Early
morning exercise has been favored but
it is as much to be reprobated as early
mental or physical labor, because at
/ that time vitality is at its lowest ebb,
and it needs stimulation rather than
further depletion; certainly, none but
the gentlest exercise should be taken
until the exhausted system has been
supplied with abundant nourishment.
Not only should we exercise properly,
but we should live temperately; we
must not make exercise subservient to
\ E E
as did the ancient Greeks and Romans,
! from premature exhaustion of the
various forces of the body. EXer-
else is, in short, the helping hand,
/ stretched forth to assist and enliven
! the various daily functions of the hui
man framework, whereas the other
condition is dragging it through the
mire. With the ancients, rs it should
! be with ourselves. a~c was obviously
/ held to be relative affair. In those
| days men Of mature years exercised
daily, in order to ward off old age.
/ With them, also, the exercise of the
muscles, and consequently the whole
| body, was simply Il part of their cduca-
ton. At that period the whole art of
/ education was embodied in mems s0Ha
in c0yDOre sGn0. This soundncss pro-
ceeded from the mutual balancing Of
/ the two forces, the physical and men
tai, which could alone result from the
/ perfect harmony in the working OF the
several parts of the human frame.
1t is gratifying to note that the masses
of the American people are realizing
the benefits Of healthful exercise, and it
is a great satisfaction for this genera
ton to know that the result will be the
! production of more perfect race OF
men, both intellectually and physically
endowed with the glory Of perfect man
hood, Il sound and vigorous mind in a
healthy body.-BOSt03l Budget.